Alive Again (A Vampire Eddie Fic)

Chapter 9

 Dustin sat on the couch with his elbows resting on his knees. He was inspecting his bandaged hand, thinking back on what caused the injury.

Eddie had charged at him much faster than he could react. He grabbed Dustin's hand with great strength to the point he was convinced his hand was going to break. And then the bite. The feeling of his teeth sliding effortlessly into his flesh, the feeling of his hot breath against Dustin's skin, and the feeling of his liquid lifeline being sucked out of him fast and steadily. And yet, even though Dustin should've been scared, he only saw Eddie and his friend's friendly eyes. The eyes he knew so well were full of fear and desperation, like nothing he did was his choice or under his control. That's why Dustin forgave Eddie so quickly once Steve knocked him out cold with a bat. He knew it was still him, just in a situation nobody could quite manage right.

It was Dustin's decision to tie Eddie up in his room. Steve had wanted to tie him onto the roof and let whatever freaky creatures that survived out there just eat him alive. Steve only realized what he said a second too late. Dustin wouldn't let the exact same thing happen again, especially when he was being given a second chance by whatever gods had heard his pleas. Not again. Never again.

"You feeling alright?" Steve asked. Dustin looked up at him, realizing he had zoned out once more.

"I'm fine," Dustin nodded. "Just thinking." Steve sat beside Dustin.

"Ok," Steve said hesitantly. "What... are you thinking about?" Dustin leaned back into the couch and looked up at the ceiling.

"Do I need to be thinking about something specific?" He looked at Steve and got a shrug in response. "I don't know. Just thinking," Steve let it go. He didn't want to pry.

After a second of silence, Dustin heard something through the gate. He looked through to see Mike and Will bickering over who should enter first. Steve noticed too and stood. He made his way over to the gate and looked at the two boys.

"Hey!" Steve called. Will and Mike looked at him, stopping their argument. "Just shut up and get over here already!"

Steve had radioed them after he found Dustin and properly dealt with Eddie. He needed help to manage this, even if he was supposed to be the babysitter.

Mike went through first, shortly followed by Will. They both straightened, quickly brushed off their clothes, then looked up at Dustin. Mike walked over first and knelt beside the couch where he sat.

"Dustin, what happened!?" He said, Will taking a few steps closer behind him. "Steve was brief on the radio. He said you got hurt?" Dustin nodded slowly.

"It was Eddie. He didn't mean to though! He was just..." He trailed off, looking for the right words.

"He was hungry," Will said. Everyone turned to him as he placed a hand on the back of his neck. "I could... feel it. Sort of. It's hard to explain,"

"You can still feel him?" Dustin asked, confused. "I would've expected the connection to die once we got rid of Vecna,"

"That's the problem," Mike said, looking at Dustin and Steve.

"He didn't die," Will said. "He's still out there."